Acts 8:1-25 Challenging False Power Fintry, 16/2/2003, am ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Badges & Uniforms ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - How do we show our allegiance to something? - show all the badges and uniforms - even things like way we dress, posters we put up on our bedroom walls... - Baptism as a sign of belonging, of declaring allegiance to Jesus - When the people in the story were baptised, they were saying they belonged to Jesus. - we can be a member of the GB or BB and go to school and like a particular pop group.... - but being baptised is a way of saying that Jesus isn't just one of the things you belong to, he's the most important, the top priority - They were saying: magic isn't able to really help us; only Jesus can - he's the one who has healed all these people! - And when a parent gets their child baptised, or when someone comes and gets baptised as an adult, they are declaring that they believe that to true for them too: - only Jesus is really able to help us, no matter how powerful or important or clever anything else may seem Taking a bath ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - Those badges tell you something about the thing you belong to: - rugby top - strong, tough game - Girl's Brigade badge has their logo, which symbolises something of their heritage - SU badge has a lamp, reminding of a key verse from the bible, (Psa 119:105) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. - even school uniform says something: uniforms were partly a way of saying everyone is equal, everyone has as much right and chance to learn as everyone else! - What does baptism tell you about declaring that you are a follower of Jesus? - got a picture of what a baptism might have looked like in Jesus time; this is actually what someone thinks it might have been like when Jesus himself was baptised! - what's involved at a baptism? what happens? looking for water!! - Why do you think water is involved in baptism? - symbolise washing! - compare with a bath!! Why? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - not because we are dirty on the outside! - but because we are dirty on the inside! - Dirt is sin: - wrong things done, said, thought; things we need to say sorry for! - The water that is sprinkled on or that someone is covered in at a baptism doesn't wash away the sin! - but it reminds us that we can become Christians, become friends with God because Jesus has washed away our sin - So when someone is baptised they are saying, by their actions: - I'm a sinner; I've done bad stuff; I need Jesus to wash me; and I'm happy to stand out and declare he has washed me! - that's why I think he's the most important person in my life! - For the early Christians baptism reminded them of something else too: - when a person was baptised they were completely immersed; - the early Christians saw in that a reminder of Jesus dying, going down into the tomb, but then coming alive again! - so being baptised was like dying to our old life (without God) and coming alive into a new life, with Jesus as our friend and Lord! - Wow! Plant Analogy ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - Seed scattered in persecution - focus on one plot of land - Samaria - Seed germinates through preaching - Seed grows as Spirit comes - Separation of acceptance of Christ in saving faith and coming of Spirit is not the norm! - allows for very particular affirmation of Spirit coming on them with official sanction from Jerusalem - schismatic Samaritans! Power Struggle ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - Power of magic in Simon - however we interpret his claims to divinity or otherwise, the nature of his magic powers - he had influence and power - Into this situation comes the gospel, carried by Philip: - who is going to win the struggle, whose power is greater? - even the one known as "The Great Power" could not stand up to Jesus! - and so many accept the good news, a good news that liberates and brings healing and release, not captivity to a boaster and an influence grabber! - This is the true nature of the gospel: - powerful, and able to transform for the good whole lives and indeed communities Imperfect Christians ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - Final thing that is worth pondering in this passage is how it deals with the reality of imperfect Christians: - Simon seems to have come to a genuine faith; - yet he is still besotted with power - following Philip around watching the miracles! - when the Holy Spirit is given, he senses that here is the source of the power that energised Philip's preaching and healing - and, crudely, he wants a piece of the action! - His fundamental priority - his own and influence - has been so far unaffected by the gospel - he may well be saying, "Lord, Lord" to Jesus, but his actions and attitudes belie that profession! - and he is in danger big time! - he is still captive to - and maybe captivate by - sin - Warning & encouragement here for us: - this is a dangerous situation, one it is perilous to allow to continue - but it is also one out of which there is way: repentance and prayer - none of us are perfect Christians, sorted Christians, we are all imperfect to some degree - we all stand with Simon - Not told how Simon ended up.... not told how we will end up... we have choice... how will we choose?